Device for making bent bristle brushes



Jan. 4, 1955 W. H. HOWE ET AL DEVICE FOR MAKING BENT BRISTLE BRUS HES Original Filed Jan. 15, 1948 Ihwemors:

MMM BB 7% 714M Gttorneg United States Patent Ofifice 2,698,462 -Patented Jan. 4, 1955 DEVICE FOR MAKING BENT BRISTLE BRUSHES William H. Howe, Bronxville, and Harold W. Reed, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Harry G. Liese, New York, N. Y.

Original application January 15, 1948, Serial N 2,538, now Patent No. 2,621,080, dated December 9, 1952. Divided and this application May 3, 1952, Serial No. 285,938

4 Claims. (Cl. 1836) This application is a division of application Serial No.

2,538 filed January 15, 1948, now Patent No. 2,621,080'

bent bristle brushes, to produce brushes with accurately bent and positioned bristles, and to reduce the cost of this production.

()ther objects are a method for producing a brush having a tuft consisting of properly bent and arranged bristles, to avoid dislocation of the properly arranged bristles and to secure the properly bent shape of the bristles permanently.

Further objects are to provide a device facilitating the use of the inventive method, to provide a device adapted to hold ferrules and tufts during the bristle-bending operation in proper positions, and to provide a device allowing the simultaneous production of a large number of bent bristle brushes.

Still further objects are to provide this device with a structure that is easy to make, easy to handle and easy to maintain in good working condition, to make this device stiff and strong by providing the same with a frame of strong metal, to avoid direct contact of this metal frame with the bristles, and, thereby, to protect the bristles from scorching or corroding when the device is heated.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an exemplifying embodiment of our invention, from the appended claims and from the accompanying drawing in which;

Fig. 1 shows a top view of a device adapted for the production of bent bristle brushes according to our invention, some top parts of this device being partly broken off, two ferrules provided with tufts being inserted in this device for the purpose of being treated according to our invention.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section taken along the broken line 22 in Fig. l, a screw bolt crossed by this line being represented non-sectionally.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, a screw, a pin and a ferrule being represented non-sectionally.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of a ferrule provided with a bristle tuft before insertion and treatment according to our invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, numeral 1 indicates a flat strip or slat provided with a row of recesses 4. These recesses extend from the front of the strip 1 parallel to each other and have curved ends of that shape which the tufts of the produced brushes shall have. The drawing shows, for example, a strip 1 with six recesses 4. But any other desired number of recesses may be arranged in a strip of a length corresponding to this number.

Another strip 5 is aflixed to the lower side of the strip 1 and closes the bottoms of the recesses 4. The strips 1 and 5 together form a unified body which constitutes the concave part of a mould. This body is positioned in a metal frame comprising a strip or ledge 6 supporting the strip 5 and two blocks or walls 7 positioned adjacently to the ends of the strips 1 and 5. The strips 1 and 5 may be secured to each other by screws 8 and 9, some of which may additionally serve to afiix the concave mould body to the frame or to its ledge 6. For example, the screws 9 extend from the strip 1 through the strip 5 into the ledge 6.

The frame is supported and re-inforced by angular rails 11 and 12 afiixed to the lower side of the ledge 6. There may be two lateral rails 11 symmetrically positioned under the ends of the ledge 6, and a rail 12 running in the longitudinal direction of the ledge 6. The rails 11 and 12 form the feet of the frame and of the entire evice.

Blocks or cover bodies 13 are afiixed, for example, cemented to a common strip or ledge 14 and fit the recesses 4. One block 13 is provided for each recess 4. When the ledge 14 contacts the top of the strip 1 as shown in the drawing, the blocks 13 reach into the recesses 4 a little less far than the bottoms of these recesses whereby spaces 15 with the open front sides are left in the recesses. These narrow spaces are adapted to hold bristle tufts confined in bent condition. The blocks 13 extend from the curved rear sides of the recesses 4 to the front not quite as far as the strip 5 whereby narrow front margins 16 of the strip 5s upper surface are left uncovered.

The blocks 13 and the ledge 14 together form a unified body constituting a convex mould part which fittingly co-operates with the concave mould part described before. This convex mould part may be reinforced by a rail 17 of angular cross-section. The rail 17 is positioned on top of the ledge 14 and runs in the longitudinal direction of the latter. The correct positions of the blocks 13 may be secured by pins 18 passing through bores in the rail 17, in the ledge 14 and in the blocks 13. The rail 17 may be affixed to the ledge 14 and to the blocks 13 in suitable manner, for example, by screws 19.

The rail 17 and, thereby, the convex mould part can be secured to the frame and to the other mould part by bolts 21 having screw threads engaging corresponding threads of bores in the frame blocks 7, and having heads 22 contacting washers 23 placed on'the' top surface of the rail 17. After removal of the bolts 21, the rail 17 can be taken off the blocks 7 whereby the convex and the concave mould parts are separated.

Another rail 24 of angular cross-section is affixed on top of the front ends of the rails 11 and forms a bridge from one rail 11 to the other. The rail 24 is positioned at a distance in front of the spaces 15 and has an edge 25 running parallel to the strip 5 and rising a little higher than this strip. The distance between the edge 25 and the strip 5 is a little shorter than the ferrules which will be described later.

Bent bristle brushes have been previously made by arranging bent bristles in proper positions and, then, affixing the thus arranged bristles to a ferrule or to a handle. The proper arrangement of the bristles is very diflicult and cumbersome and is apt to be disturbed when the bristles are being aifixed to the ferrule. According to our invention, natural animal bristles, for example, pig bristles are bent after they are afiixed to a ferrule. This method starts with brushes 26 of the type shown in Fig. 4. A brush of this type comprisesa ferrule 27 to which a tuft 28 of ordinary or straight bristles is aflixed. Such brushes are easy to make by well known methods and are available at low cost.

Further according to our invention, the tuft 28 is forced into the desired curved shape in which bristles are bent-toward the tip of the tuft. While held in this shape, the tuft together with its ferrule is treated with hot, preferably boiling water for considerable time, for example, for two hours and a half. Then the tuft is dried while still held in the mentioned shape and while remaining aifixed to 'the ferrule. The drying may take place, for example, in a dryer of ordinary and well known structure, and may last for about four hours.

lbe finished'in usualand well known manner, 'the' ferrule afiixed'to a handle of any wellkn'owntype.

; 'Th6 described method is facilitated, and its'results are improved by the use of the'devic'e shown in-Figs. 1 to 3. This device is used in the'followin g manner: a

Oiie or, preferably; several brushes of thet'yp'e shown "in'Fi'g. 4 are placedinthedeyicewhile the 'upperpart of the device comprising the top'rail 17,.theledge14and'the jblbeks 13 are removed. ,L The drawing shows only two fs'heslinserted' in the device. Biit there may be as many brusliesfin'se'rted' astheieiare recesses 4. Each'of these f rushes is so'positioiied' that the tuft lies in 'a recess 4 and ,l'ext'en'ds, into the 'areajover the inargin '16 and that the -ferrule '27 rests 'with'its 'tuft bearing end'on thismargin while the opposite end of the ferrule contacts the'ra'il Z4 'b'rth'e edge 25thereof; v V a V .Then, the temporarilylremoved parts of the device are Tafiixed'again to'the rema n ng parts by means of the screw bolts 21'. Hereby the'coneave'and conve'xmould parts geiigag'e each other, the blocks 13$ 'entering'the recesses '4. ,Whenthe bolts '21 are tightened, the blocks 13 are in their lowermost positions. The tufts are almost completely confined'in'the spaces '15 and are forced 't'o'as'sume the ;'shape shown in Fig. 1 at 29. Only very short parts 31' of the bristles emerge'from this space and project beyond thebl'ocks 13. I

he'n,tl1e entire device with; the inserted brushes is imrnerged in water, and the water is kept at boiling temperatuie for about two hours anda'lialf. The hot water con- Qtja'ctsi the parts 31 of thebristles and therefrom penetrates the entire tufts positioned in the moulding spaces 15. Then, the entire 1 device with the inserted brushes is placed'int'o a drying 'chan'ibe'fwh'ere it isikept as long "as ffeess'ary for the removal of thermoisture from the device ,and from the bristletufts, that is, for about four hours. 'fDi'iring'this drying operation, the'moisture of the tufts 'escapes through the front' openings of the spaces 15.

Then, the boltsf21"are' unscrewed, the'monld is opened b'y-the removal of its upper part, and the brushes are taken out, Thereafter, the bent bristle brushes retain the tuft V Ishape 29'permanently. The device is immediately ready for renewed use.

s association a v ty .ua h tr s q r 0 m, at 9 19.99 and'h'avihg a rounded'curvature opposite from said opening, for receiving the forward portion of a tuft of assembled bristles through said open end to be forced against said curvature with the'rear portions of the bristles protruding from said open end, said cavity having dimensions substantially'coinciding with said forward "portion of the assembled bristles and said open end being shaped to substantially conform. to the cross section of the protruding portion ofsaid tuft of assembled bristles, means carried by said base and spaced from said open end for supporting the tuft of assembled bristles when-inserted in'said cavityagainst displacement by the'resiliency of. the bristles forced against said curvature and'means adjacent the forward end of the lower of said two mold partsfor retaining said protruding portion of said assembled bristles'against'sagging.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tuft supporting means is positioned in front-of 'andopposite said openend.

3. A device for making bent'bristle'brushs eornprisiiig a base, a bristle shaping portion carried by said base and having-a male anda female ihterfi'tting partsfsaid 'rnale part substantially coinciding 1n cross'section with The strips 1, send l4 and the blocks 13am made 'or 'fsuitable non-metallic materialdvhich does not scorch the bristles under the infiuence'of heat. For example these moulding parts maybe made'of suitable-plastics. The rem'ainingparts of the deviceare made of stronger, preferably metallic non-corrosive material, for example, of an aluminum alloy. These 'mjetallic parts re-inforce the nonj'lrlnjetallic parts so that themould Twill not be distorted'by eat.

The device makes itunneeessary'to touch orifo handle the brushes directly during the boiling and drying'treat-, nienha'nd makes it possible' to place a large quantity of brushes'into the boiling bath and into the dryin'gchamber by less work than the handling oftlie'i'ndividual brushes would require.

We desire itunderstoo'd thatfour-invention isnot fcon- "1. Adevice formakingbe'nt bristle brushes comprising a base, a two partmold" carried by said base, the two mold parts being formed todefine when'unitedinmoldsaid female part for insertion therein, said female part being formed to thereby define a cavityextending transversely to the line -of insertion 'unobstru'ctedly open at one end and having'a rounded curvature opposite from s said'open end, forreceiving the forward-portion ofa tuft of assembled bristles through said open end-to'beforced against said curvature with the rear portion ofsaid bristles protruding'from said open end, said cavity having-dimensions substantially coincidingwith said forward porjtion of the tuft'of assembledjbristlesand said openen d being shaped to substantially conform to the cross section of the protruding portionof said tuft of assembled'bristle's, means adjacent the open end of the cavity and-in substantial alignment with the bottom wall of said-cavity for ret'aining saidprotruding'portio'n of said bristles against sagging, and means carriedby said base and spaced'froni said cavity opposite said open end for supporting theassembl'y of bristles against displacement when inserted in'said cavity. V

4. A device for making bent bristle'brushes by 'wets't'ate soaking ofthe bristle assembly while holdingethe bristles shaped to bent condition comprising aba'se, "a mold carriedby said base, the moldhaying acavity unobstructedly open atone end and haying an arcuate wall opposite from said opening for receivingthe forward portion offa tuft of assembled bristles through' said openfend, yield ably to be forced against said arcuateportion to'guide' t-h'e said bristles of the tuft at theforward endft'oward each otheryand with the body portion of thebristles'protruding 'slid'ably from said 'open 'end, {said cavity at its side walls having dimensions; substantially coinciding with" said forward portion of the ass'embledbristles 'andsaid open end being shaped substantially to conform to the crosssection of the protruding body portion of said-tuftof assembled bristles for 'slidably receiving the same there'- through and leave anopening'through which fluid may enter said mold cavity, means spaced from' said openend for supporting the body portion of the tuft .of assembled bristles, when inserted in said mold cavity, to-hold the assembled bristles against displacement by theresiliency of the bristles forced against saidarcuate wall, whilele'avr s thscavity arena c lw and s qn up means locatedi substantially inalignmentwiththe bottom of the cavity for retainingthe body portion of the tuft of assembled bristles against sagging. 7

References Cited in the file df pat ht UNITED STATES PATENTS 102,894 Weicker; 'May 1 0; 1870 1,545,455 'Radford et July"7,"l"9'25 

